Kryptonite - The only element that
could defeat Superman featured on ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN/SYN/1953-57;
THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY/SYN/1988-91; LOIS & CLARK: THE ADVENTURES
OF SUPERMAN/ABC/1993-97 and SMALLVILLE/WB/2001+.

Pieces of Kryptonite come from the exploded planet Krypton, the
birth planet of Kal-el (a.k.a. "Superman"), an alien now living
under the guise of newspaper reporter Clark Kent on the planet
Earth.

Over the years many kinds of Kryptonite have surfaced (green,
blue, red, white and gold) but only the green version of Kryptonite
would weaken or kill Superman upon prolonged exposure.

Superman, for example, has been shot with bullets made from
Kryptonite, effected by jewelry (rings, necklaces) made from the
substance, and been nearly defeated by ray guns emitting a deadly
Kryptonite beam.

The various types of Kryptonite (appearing in comics, TV, Movies)
and their effects on Superman and others are listed below:

Blue

Blue Kryptonite is fatal to Bizarro creatures like Bizarro
Superman, the same way Green Kryptonite effects Superman. Blue
Kryptonite was created when a duplicator ray of Professor
Potter fired on some green kryptonite.

Green Kryptonite causes a quick loss of strength and eventual
death for any Kryptonian. Green Kryptonite is the most common
form of the substance. Green Kryptonite was thought to have
no short-term effects on humans or non-super-powered
Kryptonians, but was later found to cause cancer in long term
exposure cases (Lex Luthor wore a ring containing a piece of
Kryptonite to keep Superman at bay, but soon discovered the
consequences).

Red

Red Kryptonite was created from Green Kryptonite that passed
through a mysterious red-colored cloud while on its way to
Earth. Exposure to Red Kryptonite causes strange side effect
and mutations in Kryptonians (growing wings, for instance).
The effects from each specific piece of the Red form lasts
about 1-2 days. Good News: Once exposed to a "specific" piece
of Red Kryptonite, a person is permanently immune to that
piece. Bad News: Each piece of Red Kryptonite is different and
will effect potential host with its own unique mutative side
effects. NOTE: On the WB's SMALLVILLE series, Red Kryptonite
causes Clark to become the opposite of his true personality.

Silver

Silver Kryptonite is fictional. Appeared in hoax when
Superman's friends honored his 25th anniversary since his
arrival on Earth.

Yellow

Yellow Kryptonite is fictional. It was concocted by Lex Luthor
as a hoax.

Krimson

Krimson Kryptonite was created by the impish Mr. MXYZPTLK.
This form of Kryptonite robs Superman of his super strength.
It was not deadly like Green Kryptonite.

White

Kills any type of plant life on Earth or elsewhere

Slow

Slow Kryptonite is a modified form of Green Kryptonite.
Produced by a scientist, it slows the speed of nerve impulses,
and movements of both Kryptonians and Terrans.

Anti-Kryptonite effects non-super-powered Kryptonians the same
way Green Kryptonite effects the super-powered Superman.

Jewel

Jewel Kryptonite gives those in the Phantom Zone mind-control
abilities and the power to project illusions in the the "Real
World."

On the TV series THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY, the only known supply
of Kryptonite was located in the Shift Military Institute. The
deadly rays of green Kryptonite can be blocked by sheets of lead.

On LOIS & CLARK "red" Kryptonite made Superman apathetic to the
point he let bank robbers get away on the pretext that it was the
job of the police to catch criminals, not his (Superman).

On the latest Superman franchise SMALLVILLE teenager Lana Lang
(Kristin Kreuk) wore necklace made from a green a stone that
turned out to be Kryptonite. Whenever teenager Clark Kent (Tom
Welling) got near Lana he became weak and disoriented. This was a
bummer because Clark really liked Lana. Oh well, so much for budding
romances.

TRIVIA NOTE: The creation of the
element Kryptonite came about in the early days of radio. Once, when
Bud Collyer, the radio voice of Superman ("This is a job for
Superman!") needed to leave the program for a vacation, the
scriptwriters invented Kryptonite.

The strange and deadly powers of the green substance then forced
Superman into a closet and for next two weeks, another actor mouthed
the indecipherable moans and groans of an ailing Superman until the
vacationing Bud Collyer returned to his role.

In the year 2000, a popular song entitled "Kryptonite" emerged on
the 3 Doors Down album "The Better Life." Its chorus lyrics read
below:

"If I go crazy then will you
still
Call me Superman
If I'm alive and well, will you be
There holding my hand.
I'll keep you by my side with
My superhuman might
Kryptonite"